Certain skin conditions can affect people from all walks of life and cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms. By learning how to recognize these skin conditions, you’ll be able to seek faster treatment for yourself or a loved one to keep the problems from getting worse. Here are four common skin conditions that you’ll want to learn how to recognize and treat quickly.

Boils

Boils are bumps that form on the skin and are filled with pus. The bumps form when bacteria infect one or multiple hair follicles. They can eventually rupture and leak pus, which can pose hygiene and safety problems for you and others because of the germs that are found in them. Boils can become painful and more infected if left untreated. Common locations where boils form include the face, armpits, thighs and back of neck. Treatment usually involves incisional drainage or taking antibiotics for larger boils.

Impetigo

This condition is characterized by the formation of red skin sores. Yellow crusts may also form on these sores and cause them to look like scabs from skin scrapes. Impetigo is a bacterial infection that can spread to others when the sores are touched. Oral or topical antibiotics that are prescribed at a dermatology center can treat impetigo, and the sores usually clear up within seven days after starting treatment.

Shingles

If you’ve ever had the chickenpox, you’re prone to developing shingles as you get older. The varicella-zoster virus is to blame for this condition, and the virus could remain latent in your body for years before it causes outbreaks. Symptoms include a painful skin sensation that’s followed by a rash within a few days and the presence of fluid-filled blisters. The condition isn’t life-threatening, but the pain and additional discomfort that are associated with shingles could decrease your quality of life if you experience frequent outbreaks. While there is no cure for shingles, some prescription medications can relieve symptoms.

Hives

Hives cause itchy welts to form on the skin, and the welts may vary in size. There are many factors that can cause a person to develop hives, and medical testing can be performed to try to determine an exact cause if you experience them yourself. Although harmless in most cases, hives can leave red blotches on your skin that might make you feel more self-conscious. Outbreaks of hives can often be triggered by certain foods, medicines or underlying health conditions.

These skin conditions can be managed and treated better if you know how to identify their signs and don’t ignore them. Seeking prompt treatment will be important if you don’t want to have to live with the discomfort and unsightliness that some of these conditions are known to cause.

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Meghan Belnap is a freelance writer who enjoys spending time with her family. She loves being in the outdoors and exploring new opportunities whenever they arise. Meghan finds happiness in researching new topics that help to expand her horizons. You can often find her buried in a good book or out looking for an adventure. You can connect with her on Facebook right here and Twitter right here.

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Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.